Three Welsh mountain ponies were emaciated

The Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SSPCA) said it was "bitterly disappointed" with the sentence.

Phillip sat with his head in his hands as a video was shown to the court which was taken after SSPCA officers raided his stud farm in Blairadam, near Kelty in Fife, last June.

Acting on a tip-off, they found four of ponies lying emaciated and dead in filth-encrusted stables.

Several other horses were severely malnourished - some so weak they could not stand.

The court heard how Philip had suffered financial problems and could not afford to feed the horses.

One of the ponies was dehydrated and suffering from overgrown feet and sharp teeth causing it pain to stand or eat properly.

It was extremely distressing for our inspectors to see what those horses went through

Angela Walton SSPCA spokeswoman

Philip's solicitor Angus Wood said his client had not been able to properly look after the animals because he did not have full access to the stables.

He claimed Philip, who had recently taken on the running of the farm from his mother and father, was not responsible for feeding the 10 animals which were there when the inspectors had visited.

Sheriff Lindsay Foulis described the charges as serious but took into account Philip's lack of previous convictions.

Custodial sentence

After reading community service order and social inquiry reports, he said a custodial sentence would not be appropriate.

Philip was fined �500 for failing to dispose of the animal carcasses.

After the case SSPCA spokeswoman Angela Walton said: "We are bitterly, bitterly disappointed with the sentence, we were expecting him to be given a life ban.

"We were also hoping for a custodial sentence of up to three months.

"There was extreme suffering involved to the horses at the farm.

"Those horses would have been crying for hours in the end. It was extremely distressing for our inspectors to see what those horses went through.

"It was one of the worst cases we have come across. It is probably the worst involving horses and one of the worst involving animals in general."